Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-07-01
POINTS ON FIREWORKS.
nOW rms MASY sRAUf1EUL PfsCAs
ASS 1ARUEA0fUsED
The secret snd Sssner ot Passius the various
Parts Together rhs kocsess, sp,nsnesis
and Roman Casdles-A kuowl
edge Of Chemistry Necessary.

which are to he found on the wrappers OF
fireworks lead one TO infer that they are
manufactured within the regions OF the pre-
historic land of fhreworks-ChinA but in fact
all fireworks used and sold in this country,
rs well rs many thousands OF the most com
plex pieces used in Europe are tho result Of
American Industry aud skill.
In conversation with = New York agent Of
fireworks the other day, the gentleman who
WAS al one time An employe OF an extensive
pyrotechnic establishment Ia the East, gave .
very interesting description OF how some OF
the simplest as well rs what appears to us
the most complex pyrotechnic pieces are
made.
The cracker, ~ all know" said the gen
ueman, els the most popular As we'll as the
noisiest of all the fireworks, and hundreds OF
thousands OF packages are sold each year.
Next in popularity and number Of sales
stands the little torpedoes, which are -
harmless as snything In the line made. They
are composed OF Illuminating pow ders and q
Jew minute pebbles
"The Roman candle Is formed Of q paper
cylinder from seven-sixteenths to seven.
eights of An inch in diameter. In this about
arpoobful OF Roman candle composition Is
dropped, and then thirty grains OF rifle pow.
der, ON top OF which are the colored balls.
THIS Is repeated again and again till the
cylinder Is filled up. When ignited the con.
position Is the first to burn, after which the
colored balls are forced out, and the operA.
/ ei'u SouhhuVs uheu khC Suuuio - CubiViy
consumed.
"The rocket, which is one of the finest
pieces made, requires great care and expert
ence, rs the cylinder must stand great
pressure. The rocket will not go up II 1t
bursts and so tar rope paper made az pressly
for pyrotechnists 10 used. A steel spindle
with brass tisnge at the bottom and taper.
ing to point Is screwed on = block, aud IL
the rocket case Is an inch, the spindle Is half
an inch in diameter, or one half the inner
diameter OF the case, while the top OF the
spindle should be one quarter of the inner
diameter OF the case aud the height seven
| and-a.haf times the inner diameter Of the
| case. The paper cylinder is put over the
spindle and spoonful of clay dropped in.
| Then rammer made Of Russian iron, cylin-
| drical in form, so that it may tit over the
| spindle, is placed upon the clay and tapped
| 10y mallet OF certain weight twelve times at
| certain momentum, IN order to settle the
| clay aud close up the end of the rocket case.
1t is absolutely necs ssary that twelve blows,
and that number only, at the required mo
| mentum be struck.
course, only gained by practice. Then q
| spoonful of composition, sulphur, charcoal
and nltre is dropped in, and ten more Blow
struck at 4 certain momentum, IL less than
| ten blows be struck it will cause the rock q,
to burst, and IL more, the rocket will not
| ascend a. high as 1t should. The cylinder Is
next charged with composition one and
/ one-half inches above the head OF the spind .e,
| auu 10 cICsSu viii Clay, through WulCu uOie
| one quarter OF al inch in diameter Is bored.
The aperture left by the spindle Is for the
fuse the spindle holding the igniting compo.
sition in strata. In burning into the strata
the resultant is an immense quantity OF
| elastic hud, and this in its efforts to
rush through the aperture Of clay and meet.
| ing resistance from the atmosphere-the
Resistance being least at the top OF the rocket
| necessarily makes the latter ascend. ltshould
| have been stated that when a rock ct is charged
| the coIors, IN the shapes OF small cubes, are
| tied on TO the head, aud when the rocket
| reaches the greatest height they burn with
| wonderful brilliancy. The query a. to why
| rockets turn over Is exceedingly simple. The
centre of gravity is in the middle when the
| rocket is in the frame, but when 1t leaves |,
the centre is two inches below the middle
| hence 1t turns over alter 1t has reached 1t,
| greatest height.
"The cost of making fireworks is very evi
dent when you consider that all the wori
} has to be done by hand. The labor put upOI
these pyrotechDics Is the item which costs, a
the materials arc senerally very expensive.
made" Certainly. Manila paper is rolleC
over spindle and paste Is added between
each large layer to give greater strength
Then out OF clay shoulder, with . smsl
| aperture called q spindle hole Is formed, AND
these cylinders are charged for the ordinary
| wheel with charcoal, nitre and ulphur thos<
for pyrotechnicsl display with sulphur, nitre
powder aud steel filings, the latter article
making brilliant spark. The principal one
which 1t works is this A large amount o
carbonic acid gas sccumulates and Is the
strength OF the cylinder prevents 1t from
bursting the pressure il sufficient to force the
| attached wheel around.
| "Is the business dangerous Why, no
| not II one understands it, and no one should
| ever attempt to carry on such business
| without knowledge OF chemistry, ~ such is
absolutely necessary. Accidents are Of cou rse
| met with, but ali through carelessness. After
l sIlylt mlsbdD OF some Kind r.